Start planning your adventure to Egypt with our useful resources that cover everything from health and money to visas and when best to visit. Check out our guide on top spots to visit, what to expect when sailing on a felucca, and highlights of the ancient world.

Marvelous Egypt Travel a tour operator and a travel agency with governmental license number 1749 as Class A-1 by the Egyptian Tourism Ministry since the foundation in 2005 and member of the Egyptian Travel Agent Association (ETAA) , American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and World Tourism Organization ( WTO ) managed by a team of multilingual professionals travel consultants and providing full services for group and individuals traveling to Egypt for leisure and business travel.

The Best Time to visit Egypt

Seasons and Weather

Temperatures in Egypt are generally high, particularly during the summer months from May to August, when the sun can be very strong. If you're visiting Egypt during this time, take plenty of sunscreen. It's still fine to visit Egypt at these times of year and the heat is more dry than humid.

In Cairo and the Nile Delta region, winter (October to February) can be cooler, especially in the evenings and at night, so take a jacket, long-sleeved tops and trousers. The south remains warm during this time but again, temperatures do drop in the evenings. This is the best time to visit Egypt for sightseeing if you want to avoid the hot sun.

The shoulder months of September, March and April offer pleasant daytime temperatures and are considered ideal months to enjoy the Red Sea for sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling. Scuba diving can be enjoyed year-round.

Cairo Climate

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

TEMP MIN °C

8

9

11

14

17

20

23

23

21

18

14

10

TEMP MAX °C

19

20

24

28

32

34

36

36

33

30

26

21

RAINFALL (MM)

14

4

8

7

0

0

1

0

5

4

1

3

Luxor Climate

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

TEMP MIN °C

7

8

12

17

21

24

25

25

22

19

13

8

TEMP MAX °C

23

25

29

35

39

41

41

41

39

35

29

24

RAINFALL (MM)

10

1

3

10

20

1

13

0

4

3

1

6

Hurghada Climate

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

TEMP MIN °C

11

12

15

19

22

24

25

25

24

21

16

12

TEMP MAX °C

21

22

25

29

33

35

35

34

33

29

26

22

RAINFALL (MM)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

Festivals and Events

The vast majority of Egypt's population is Muslim and a number of Islamic celebrations are held throughout the year, namely Ramadan and Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) though the devout Coptic Christian minority observe holidays such as Easter. Below is a guide to the various festivals and events held throughout 2017.

Abu Simbel Sun Festival

The spectacular temples of Abu Simbel were built so that on two days of the year the sun would align and illuminate the inner sanctum of the temple. These dates mark the date of King Ramses II's ascension to the throne - 21st February - and his birthday - 21st October. It's an incredible phenomenon to witness and a perfect time to visit Abu Simbel.

Ramadan

In 2017 Ramadan will start on 27th May and will continue for 30 days until 25th June. Most Egyptians usually become more holy during this month, visiting their mosque more regularly and reading as much of the Koran as possible. At night you will find a very festive atmosphere especially in major Egyptian cities. People usually go out after breaking their fast to coffee shops, sporting clubs or big hotels. Often you will see oriental tents set up outside these places where shisha, food and drinks (no alcohol) are served all night with live music, Sufi dancing and traditional dancing. These parties go on all night till just before sunrise when people have their second big meal called ‘El Sohour’ which will help them fast for the next day. At this time of year services will be slower, opening hours reduced and traffic chaotic but it is likely that you will witness and often experience the true hospitality, generosity and kindness that the holy month of Ramadan brings to the nation.

Eid El Adha

Also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, the festival of Eid El Adha commerorates the willingness of Ibrahim to follow Allah's command to sacrifice his son Ishmael. The festival lasts for four days and during this time families share the meat from a sacrificed animal between themselves, relatives and the poor. In 2017 Eid El Adha begins on the 31st August.

2017 Calendar

To help plan your 2017 visit to Egypt, here's an overview of the year's festivals and events.

There's also a number of national holidays in Egypt and on these dates many businesses and some tourist sites will close for the day so plan your visit accordingly.

Tourist Site Closures

At present there are no planned closures of tourist sites in Egypt but recently closing times for major attractions in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor have changed to 4pm with the exception of Luxor Temple which is open until 8pm during the week.